The technology and innovation in the vehicle manufacturing industry is changing as each day passes by. The invention of the autonomous car has left the automotive industry in a shaky state as manufacturers try to catch up. Automotive manufacturers and their components suppliers are working tirelessly to catch up with these recent innovations that define the cars of the future. This technology features cars that are driverless, semi-autonomous or human-operated.

The introduction of these vehicles brings a shift in the interaction between humans and machines. The automotive industry has taken into account that humans prefer having conversational and relational interactions with devices; this has been proven with the popularity of chatbots. Virtual assistants such as Alexa and Siri are also very common apps being utilized by consumers today.

With these new innovations, the vehicles that are being manufactured for the future are advanced artificial intelligence systems that will make traveling a completely evolved and new experience. Drivers and their passengers will have a conversational interface with the vehicle and its controls.

The use of emotion recognition technology will make it possible for the vehicles to analyze our emotions and moods so that they can react accordingly. There are several benefits that these “emotionally aware” vehicles will bring:

Improved safety on the roadsSafety on the roads is very important and the invention of emotion-aware vehicles means that they will be able to monitor the behaviors of drivers and address any potential hazards based on the mood and facial expressions of the individual operating the vehicle.

The vehicle will have the ability to know when the driver is fatigued, distracted, or frustrated and initiate a slow down, locking of the doors, or even playing loud music etc. This ability to read and interpret emotions will have a significant impact on road safety. For instance, Toyota has developed a concept car that wants to be your best pal. The vehicle features Yui (AI assistant) that engages you in conversations and other tasks so that you stay alert while driving.

Creation of the next generation of transportationAdvances in vehicle technology are changing the world of transportation altogether. Like self-driving vehicles, emotionally aware cars will create a connection between the machine and the human, making the transportation experience better, with an added layer of guaranteed safety.

With the incorporation of sensors and complex technology, the future of cars is set to bring smart transport services that passengers will easily interact with. For example, Fiat Chrysler unveiled a new car that has LIDAR (light detection and ranging) and sensors that allow level 3 autonomous driving; this makes it possible for the car to self-drive through urban areas (although it still requires little guidance from a person).

Improving the in-car experienceEmotionally aware vehicles not only improve safety, but the emotion recognition technology also makes the in-car experience more enjoyable for the passengers through entertainment. For instance, when you are caught up in bad traffic, the car can switch on relaxing music, change temperature settings, or even recommend enjoyable places to pull off the side of the road. The days of long, frustrating commutes will officially be over.

Car manufacturers are using emotion artificial intelligence systems to better learn and understand consumer habits as they aim at making their technology better. Many believe that 2017 is just the beginning of impressive vehicle technologies and developments to come.